[GRH]

The fact that the planning decision was upheld is of course disappointing, but in making the ruling a precendent has been set which has huge implications for biodiversity conservation. The issue here isn't, and never has been, with the developer or Royal Mail. At the end of the day, developers are needed to build everything from visitor centres to hospitals, including warehouses, and they're just 'doing their job' (and they'll do it as cheaply as possible). The argument was that as a public body (albeit an unelected one) and planning authority Thurrock Development Corporation had a duty under the NERC act (and there were also issues relating to planning policy). From the Buglife press release:

"The judgment seemed to set a precedent that Development Corporations will not have to follow national planning guidance on protecting biodiversity if this conflicts with the Court’s very narrow interpretation of their regeneration role as requiring all land to be brought into productive commercial use, regardless of its wildlife importance. [this also has implications for public amenity, archaeology etc]

The judge dismissed the 2006 Biodiversity Duty that applies to all Public Bodies as being a ‘weak one'..."

The NERC at was 'woolly worded' from the start, and this case was more than just about protecting a nationally important site for wildilfe - it was about all such sites and the actual protection afforded to biodiversity under legislation and policy. It turns out that this is very little. This will only get worse if the planning white paper goes through - with 'committees' making decisions on major infrastructure.

It is this issue that needs addressing - otherwise there will be a lot more cases like West Thurrock, even if the site is eventually saved. Go to theyworkforyou.com and express your concern to your local MP, support Buglife, raise awareness on forums such as this, basically do anything you can think of to send the message to Government that enough is enough, and the voters (or future voters) aren't falling for it, and they're certainly not happy! (It can't hurt to complain to Royal mail either!)

It was the reasons given for upholding the planning decision that has set off alarm bells, rather than the fact it was upheld, and has added more fuel to the fire. It's not over yet (even if it doesn't go to appeal)!

Greg